Sneak Peek: Kia Picanto

Korean car company Kia has released a teaser sketch of the next-generation Picanto city car.

Sneak Peek: Kia Picanto

Korean car company Kia has released a teaser sketch of the next-generation Picanto city car.

It will be officially unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March but the local operation remains tight-lipped about whether it will be sold in Australia.

The brand’s chief operating officer in Australia, Tony Barlow, says the car is worthy of consideration for the local market but no decisions have been made.

‘‘Strategically we like that segment, because it’s a lot of people’s first car and we’ve got the opportunity to get people into the Kia family,’’ he says.

‘‘While there are no immediate plans to bring Picanto to Australia, we have been and will continue to look at opportunities in areas in which we do not currently compete. The Picanto now has the advantage of being an all-new car and if it makes sense as a business case, then it is certainly not off the agenda.’’

The case for importing the car will have been made stronger by the arrival of cutprice city runabouts fromrival makers.

Holden’s Barina Spark, Nissan’s Micra and Suzuki’s Alto are all making big noises at the small end of the market.